"Radar Contact"

[Earl Miller]

Is "Radar Contact " still used on an air born aircraft's first contact with a online controller?
Whether it's Tower, Approach or Center? Taking off from an airport or crossing into controlled airspace?
Thanks,
Earl

[Kenneth Haught]

Hi Earl,
  You should not (usually) hear "Radar Contact" from a tower unless they are simulating a radar certified tower (which is usually only at large fields afaik). Provided departure control is available (APP/DEP/CTR) you should hear it prior to being given any instructions, since as a radar controller you should not issue any instructions to an aircraft you have not positively identified. You will also usually hear it when entering controlled airspace (from an airstrip, etc) when first contacting a radar controller (APP/CTR) after flying through an area of no control (due either to lack of staff or area procedures).

Again, the first "radar" controller should tell you you are "radar contact", and state your position (and indicated altitude if you have not yet reported it), but a Tower usually should not on VATSIM (with the above stated exceptions).

[William Lewis]

To dive into a bit further technical area for you Mr. Miller, the term "Radar Contact" is used to inform you the pilot that I the controller has identified you on the radar scope. This is information is important to you as when you are identified on radar your may stop normal position reporting procedures. This will occur, as Kenneth mention, in most areas covered by a terminal (Approach/Departure) or En Route (Center) radar coverage areas.

In order to assist a controller with identifying you (determining which target (dot) you are on the radar screen), it is best to report a position to the radar controller on initial contact similar to as you with normal position reporting procedures in non-radar coverage areas. The controller may observe a target in the position of which you reported to determine identification or may also use a secondary radar identification method (Using the aircraft's transponder) to further assist with identification and tracking. This is true in most cases except on initial communications with a departure controller when departing a towered field. The reason it is not necessary to report a position to a departure controller is because the local controller (tower) will provide the departure controller of your position for you. This is commonly known as a "rolling call" (among a few others) but is completely an ATC procedure.

[Earl Miller]

Hi Earl,
  You should not (usually) hear "Radar Contact" from a tower unless they are simulating a radar certified tower (which is usually only at large fields afaik). Provided departure control is available (APP/DEP/CTR) you should hear it prior to being given any instructions, since as a radar controller you should not issue any instructions to an aircraft you have not positively identified. You will also usually hear it when entering controlled airspace (from an airstrip, etc) when first contacting a radar controller (APP/CTR) after flying through an area of no control (due either to lack of staff or area procedures).

Again, the first "radar" controller should tell you you are "radar contact", and state your position (and indicated altitude if you have not yet reported it), but a Tower usually should not on VATSIM (with the above stated exceptions).

Thank you for the information. Very helpful.

[Earl Miller]

To dive into a bit further technical area for you Mr. Miller, the term "Radar Contact" is used to inform you the pilot that I the controller has identified you on the radar scope. This is information is important to you as when you are identified on radar your may stop normal position reporting procedures. This will occur, as Kenneth mention, in most areas covered by a terminal (Approach/Departure) or En Route (Center) radar coverage areas.

In order to assist a controller with identifying you (determining which target (dot) you are on the radar screen), it is best to report a position to the radar controller on initial contact similar to as you with normal position reporting procedures in non-radar coverage areas. The controller may observe a target in the position of which you reported to determine identification or may also use a secondary radar identification method (Using the aircraft's transponder) to further assist with identification and tracking. This is true in most cases except on initial communications with a departure controller when departing a towered field. The reason it is not necessary to report a position to a departure controller is because the local controller (tower) will provide the departure controller of your position for you. This is commonly known as a "rolling call" (among a few others) but is completely an ATC procedure.

Good information. I wasn't sure, if in this virtual world, we still used the Radar Contact
Thanks again